Originally published: November 30, 2012

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

The mid-sized sedan market is by far the most homogeneous and competitive in the car business. Unlike Canadians, who typically prefer smaller compact cars, Americans prefer mid-sized sedans. Because of this, sales volumes are vast, resulting in a very competitive market. Even though Canadians typically buy smaller sedans, sales of mid-sized cars are growing due to the strength of our Canadian dollar and improved fuel efficiency in this class. The good news for anyone who wants a bigger sedan is that the top sellers have been refreshed or totally replaced for 2012 and 2013, including the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu and this Nissan Altima. Also look for a heavily refreshed 2014 Hyundai Sonata next year. It might be surprising to note that of the Japanese brands, the Altima has historically outsold the Camry and Accord.

The Skin

There is no question that this looks like an Altima and it should — it is based on the same platform as the older model but it is 32 kilograms lighter, which saves you money on fuel. With fashion-forward cars in this segment from Hyundai and Ford, it could be said that Nissan played it safe, probably the way their buyers like it. The LED accent lights, front and back, are a nice touch. This Altima has the Maxima’s wider fenders and narrower waist, giving a solid stance. With a starting price of $23,698 and topping out at just over $32,000, this Altima is priced almost dollar for dollar with the competition. The base model comes with 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. The 4-cylinder SV and SL models come with 17-inch alloy wheels and the 18-inch alloys are kept for the V6 versions of the SV and SL trim levels.

The Cockpit

The interior is a nice mixture of soft touch materials, easy to use layout and big dials and buttons for many of the baby boomers that will be buying this car. The 3D-effect centre readout is a nice touch and when the vehicle is fitted with the large navigation screen, backup camera and radio screen, it is simple to use. Even on the base model, Bluetooth, keyless start, streaming audio and easy-fill tire system all come standard. For just under $27,000, the SV model is the one that will attract attention for including heated front seats and the 5-inch monitor with backup camera. The easy-fill feature is a first. When an air hose is attached to the wheel, the Altima’s parking lights flash, then the tire pressure monitoring system lets the driver know when the correct pressure is achieved by sounding the horn. If too much air is added, the lights flash faster and the horn sounds three times. When the correct amount of air has been removed, the horn sounds again. This is truly innovative and standard on the Altima.

The Ride

The Altima is bucking the trend by still offering a V6 engine instead of a turbocharged 4-cylinder, but the reality is most Canadians will opt for the base 4-cylinder. This motor is a 2.5L unit with 182hp. Compared to almost 200hp from direct-injection engines — from the Hyundai Sonata or Chevrolet Malibu — this might seem like an oversight, but it’s not. What this car has going for it is solid fuel consumption numbers. The 2.5L is rated at 7.4L/100km in the city and 5.0 in the city. Weight reduction plays a factor in fuel savings but the biggest difference is the continuously variable transmission, or CVT. Regular readers will know I haven’t always been kind to the CVT. Early efforts were sloppy and not satisfying. This new batch of Nissan CVTs is so good the driver forgets. It is only under the hardest accelerating manoeuvres that the driver can tell. The CVT is also more efficient than the previous model with a 40-per-cent reduction in friction. The 4-cylinder models have a belt-driven system, where the V6’s get a chain-driven CVT. The only gripe, and it is a small one, is there is a bit more engine noise under acceleration than I expected.

The Good, The Bad

Good: Great packaging and features.

Bad: The 4-cylinder could be a bit quieter.

Verdict

The Altima flies a bit under the radar. The limelight often goes to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, but the reality is this car sells better than those well-known nameplates. Nissan has taken a different approach to their vehicles over the last decade or so. By sticking with the continuously variable transmission and relentlessly refining it, it has produced a very driveable car that is comfortable and rewards at the fuel pumps. The inclusion of a V6 over newer technology like direct injection and turbocharging is something Nissan can implement as part of a mid-cycle refresh in a few years. The mid-sized class can be defined by two camps; the smooth and refined riding cars and the ones that place more emphasis on driving dynamics. I would place cars like the Camry and Malibu in the smooth camp and this Altima and Accord in the dynamic camp. Dynamic and fuel-efficient.